Hey baby

Well the bootees are finished (hurrah)...

Sparrow from Let's Knit - http://ravel.me/thefunkylibrarian/g0gvg

I've also finished my first ever cardigan...

Paris from Let's Knit - http://ravel.me/thefunkylibrarian/yi8f4

Again knit for my friends' baby when it arrives in January.  I've still to sew on four buttons but apart from that its ready to go.

I'm delighted with this, its so soft and squidgy and will keep the little one warm in cold January, hope he appreciates it!

The pattern was called Paris from a Let's Knit magazine supplement called Handknitted for Baby but I'm not sure of the date.  It was a super easy patterns to follow and can now add making a buttonhole with [yfwd, k2tog, k1] using stitch markers and picking up stitches to my arsenal.  I found picking up stitches quite tricky but making a buttonhole seems to be a mix of black magic and weird science.  I adapted the pattern slightly by not adding on pockets to the front as I wasn't overly keen on them.

Also if I were to knit this again I would go for a stronger colourway than the bluey/grey neutral colour, I think as its a basic garter stitch a strong colour will help the stitches stand out.







Continuing on the baby gifts next on the needles is a pattern called Little Imp from a Simply Knitting supplement called Hand knits for baby.  I've literally just cast this on using Deramores baby DK (gorgeous super soft yarn!) and already ran into trouble.  The first part of the pattern calls for a simple rib patterns then continue in stocking stitch then using a different colour yarn to create stripes.  I have somehow managed to mess up the simple rib at the start!

So tonight's mission is to find out how to undo around 6 stitches.  I refuse to rip it back a row or even to start again (its CO 80 stitches, yawn).  So that will add undoing stitches to the arsenal, if I can figure it out.  What's really annoying is its a rib pattern to I need to undo a purl and a knit stitch...argh!

Chunky cowl and what's been happening dudes

Well I decided to try the exciting new cowl pattern (which you can view here) with the Rowan Big Wool, shade 00068, a gorgeous mustard yellow (which doesn't show up too well in the pic).  I'm about three quarters of the way there...

[I will post a pic in here but I'm writing this from the iPad and it won't let me upload, grrr]

I'm trying to get some more knitting done so I can start to clear out the stash and try new exciting baby knits for my friends James and Carrie whose baby is due in January and well they way I knit it'll be 21 before he or she gets it!

Also the anxiety has been near on unbearable lately.  I made it to the other side of the depressive episode but have been suffering with panic attacks and generally anxiety for a few months now. Even getting panic attacks in my sleep which is not fun.  I took some time off work to relax, even planned on knitting the whole week but ended up giving the house a spring clean instead.

Anyhoo, will post a pic of the scarf ASAP and details of the baby knit plans too.  Good ole Deramores gave me a discount, had a sale AND free delivery so I went a bit nuts, so much for clearing out the stash eh :)

The best bit, shopping!

I am still working my way through the Craftsy course, "Know Your Wool" and I found the talk about different breeds and how they produce different yarns interesting but now we get to the good bit, shopping for yarns!  

As the course is delivered from North America I thought all the online stores would be from the US or Canada but the very first shop demonstrated was from the UK.  Blacker Yarns has been added to my favourites list as you can also search by sheep breed - Welsh Black anyone?

Also demonstrated, which are useful to me in the UK, was Etsy (do a search for yarn, wool etc) and also eBay.  Again try and keep the searches specific, especially if you know the breed you want. 

Although shopping online for specialist yarns can be fun there is nothing like giving a ball of wool the squidge test so I think I would save my pennies for the annual Wonderwool Festival held in mid Wales in April each year but if you can't make it to a wool festival I can see this being a great idea.